Actor Sunil Lahri, well-known for his role as Lakshman in the TV show Ramayan (1987), recently expressed his disappointment and shock after watching the film Adipurush, starring Prabhas and Kriti Sanon. In an interview with Indian Express, Lahri criticized the film’s graphics, stating that while it may look visually appealing like a painting, it lacks in terms of content and emotion. He questioned the target audience for the film, mentioning the absence of narration, story, and proper characterization.
As someone associated with the story and character of Ramayan, Lahri expressed his dismay, mentioning that Ramayan could have been portrayed in a wonderful way, but Adipurush failed to establish an emotional connection. He criticized the film for its portrayal of characters, subpar visual effects, and colloquial dialogues. Lahri found the representation of Ram and Lakshman to be indistinguishable, while Ravana was depicted as a blacksmith beating iron, a departure from the original character. He also criticized the character designs, noting that Meghnad had tattoos and the hairstyles of the characters were obnoxious, including Raavan’s resemblance to Indian cricketer Virat Kohli.
Lahri further pointed out alterations in important aspects of the story, such as the replacement of Pushpak Viman (Ravana’s flying vehicle) with a bat. He mentioned the depiction of Ram fighting the war on Hanuman’s shoulder, whereas Lord Indra bestowed a carriage for him. Additionally, he criticized the portrayal of Lakshman and Meghnad fighting in water, while the traditional account states that Meghnad used his power to disappear.
Questioning the filmmakers’ attempt to modernize the story, Lahri cited the recent resurgence in popularity of Ramayan when it was re-aired on TV during the lockdown. He emphasized that the show, originally aired in 1987, still resonated with audiences of all generations and received high ratings. He questioned the need for such drastic changes in the name of modernization.
Lahri also addressed the controversial dialogues in the film and criticized the makers for vilifying certain characters. He argued that once the damage is done, retracting the dialogues does not erase the impact. He expressed his displeasure with the disrespectful language used by characters like Hanuman and Meghnad in the film, which he felt was inappropriate and went beyond mere local dialect or colloquialism.
In summary, Sunil Lahri, who played Lakshman in the TV show Ramayan, expressed his disappointment with the film Adipurush, criticizing its lack of content, emotional connection, and controversial portrayal of characters. He questioned the decision to alter important aspects of the story and the use of disrespectful language, and he highlighted the enduring popularity of the authentic Ramayan series among viewers of all generations.
